Turkey Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 26, Rescue Operation Continues

INTERNATIONAL DESK:  The death toll in Turkey from a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Seferihisar district in the western province of Izmir rose to 26.

Search and rescue operations have been completed in eight buildings in Izmir while work continues in nine others, according to Environment and Urbanisation Minister Murat Kurum, who said damage assessment work has begun in public buildings.

The tremor’s magnitude, which razed more than 20 buildings to the ground in Turkey, was measured to be at magnitude 6.6 according to the Turkish authorities. However, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) measured the quake’s magnitude at 7.

Magnitude 6.6 #quake shakes #Turkey‘s #Aegean Sea coasthttps://t.co/2kP12FP9Rn pic.twitter.com/iKafqZysJZ

— ANADOLU AGENCY (ENG) (@anadoluagency) October 30, 2020

The quake struck some 14 kilometers (kms) northeast of the town of Néon Karlovásion on Samos and triggered a tsunami-like situation in parts of both countries.

Footages showed water flooded the streets in affected parts of both countries.

[VIDEO] Water levels rise after #earthquake in #Turkey’s #Aegean region https://t.co/0RBDKwyeWr pic.twitter.com/Wtid0QTL9F

— ANADOLU AGENCY (ENG) (@anadoluagency) October 30, 2020

Turkish media reported some 522 injured including children and women. Some eight people including two children were reported dead in Greece as well.

The rescue operations in Turkey and Greece are underway and many victims have been rescued from the debris of the collapsed infrastructure.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a tweet expressed that the government was standing with people in this moment of grief and hardship. He added that the rescue organizations and related ministries have been issued directions to expedite relief activities.

İzmir’de meydana gelen #deprem‘den etkilenen tüm vatandaşlarımıza geçmiş olsun.

Devletimizin tüm imkanlarıyla depremden etkilenen vatandaşlarımızın yanındayız. İlgili tüm kurumlarımızla, bakanlarımızla bölgede gerekli çalışmalara başlamak için harekete geçtik.

— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) October 30, 2020

Pakistan has also expressed solidarity with the victims of the earthquake in both countries.

Extremely anguished by news of earthquake in Izmir, #Turkey, and people reportedly trapped in demolished buildings. Like always, people of #Pakistan are in strong solidarity with their Turkish brethren. Our best wishes and prayers!@MFATurkey

— Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) October 30, 2020

Meanwhile, Turkey’s National Defence Ministry has established a crisis desk in the wake of the earthquake; two military helicopters are taking part in search and rescue efforts.